Nairobi MPs threaten censure motion against Defence CS Soipan Tuya

Nairobi County MPs are now threatening to move a no-confidence motion against Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya over the military recruitment exercise set to begin next month.

Led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the MPs say Nairobi residents have been discriminated against in the exercise, after only three areas were allocated for the exercise.

They claim that there is a possibility that residents from other areas may invade the exercise and if elected, the issue will discriminate against Nairobi residents.

They say despite writing a letter to CS Soipan highlighting the issue no action has been taken so far, threatening to halt the nationwide exercise until their demands are met.

"What we are saying to the CS is we are going to censure her. We wrote to her, she has not responded and we want her to tell us what is this discrimination against Nairobi," an MP said.

"If this does not change we will stop the recruitment of KDF officers in the entire country unless Nairobi is treated in the same manner as the other 46 counties."

In a communiqué dated September 16, eighteen MPs representing constituencies in Nairobi argued that the exercise does not adhere to the principles of fairness and non-discrimination as guided by the Constitution.

The letter submitted by Embakasi West MP and National Assembly Minority Whip Mark Mwenje, signed by 17 others, cited that the current itinerary is skewed against Nairobi County, as the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has designated a few recruitment centres against the large populace of the county.

The schedule has designated Nyayo Stadium to serve Embakasi (East, West North, South), Kamukunji, Makadara and Starehe constituencies.

The Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani has been designated to serve recruits from Kasarani, Ruaraka, Mathare and Roysambu constituencies.

Residents from Dagoretti (North, South), Lang'ata, Kibra and Westlands constituencies will present themselves at Jamhuri Grounds.

The legislators opined that the consolidation of these recruitment centres pose a logistical nightmare, while other counties have been accorded recruitment centres in every sub-county.

KDF announced its 2025 nationwide recruitment exercise on September 15, inviting skilled professionals and officers aspiring to serve in its ranks, and the recruitment exercise will take place in October 2025.